An Abuja High Court on Monday ordered a defence counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), to appear before it to explain the “propriety” of a letter he wrote to it.
Awomolo, counsel to Tunde Dairo, a former personal assistant to Prof. Babalola Borishade, had written to the court to adjourn proceedings sine die, pending an appeal against the ruling of the court.
Dairo is standing trial with the former aviation minister, the former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Rowland Iyayi, and an Australian, George Eder, who is the Managing Director of Avsatel Communications Ltd.
Justice Abubakar Umar had on March 1 ruled that the confession made to the EFCC on July 25, 2008 by Dairo was admissible in court.
Awomolo had in the letter informed the court that Dairo was in possession of the proof of appeal notice, briefs and arguments that were filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
But Umar, in his ruling on Monday, said it was not enough for Awomolo to send the letter without filing a motion for the court to grant the prayers being sought.
“The letter raised some major legal issues. I would have preferred that the learned senior advocate appears before the court to explain whether a proof of appeal can operate as a stay of proceedings.
“What I have before me in the letter does not show that. I will give the counsel till Tuesday to appear before me and explain this,” he said.
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Aviation scam: Court summons defence counsel